Charlie Williams v. State of Florida

On direct appeal, Charlie Williams contends his convictions for tampering with a witness, in violation of section 914.22(1), Florida Statutes (2012), should be reversed because the instructions the jury were given constituted fundamental error. He contends the jury instructions permitted— and, indeed, required — a guilty verdict even for lawful conduct. Persuaded, we reverse judgment and sentence alike and remand for a new trial.

On remand, Mr. Williams cannot, of course, be retried on the count on which he was acquitted, a charge of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim twelve years of…